Introduction:

PowerSchool is a widely used education technology platform that assists educators in managing and analyzing student data. It offers comprehensive tools for tracking and calculating grades, attendance, and various other performance indicators. In this article, we will explore how PowerSchool calculates grades and the features available for teachers to customize the grading process.

1. Grade Setup:

To begin with, teachers need to configure their gradebook settings in PowerSchool according to their preferences and grading policies. This involves setting up grade scales, categories, weighting, and final grade calculations.

2. Grade Scales:

A grade scale defines the range of marks or percentages that correspond to specific letter grades (e.g., A+, A, A-, B+, etc.). Teachers can create custom grade scales or use the existing scales provided by PowerSchool.

3. Categories & Assignments:

Teachers can organize assignments into different categories (e.g., tests, quizzes, homework) and assign a weight to each category. By doing so, they establish the importance of a given category when calculating final grades.

Assignments are added to the gradebook with specific details such as total points possible, due date, and assigned category. These characteristics play an essential role when PowerSchool performs calculations for individual student grades.

4. Weighting:

In PowerSchool’s grade calculation process, weighting is used to determine how much influence each assignment or category has on a student’s overall average. By applying weights to categories or assignments, teachers can prioritize certain assessments or coursework over others within their grading system.

5. Final Grade Calculation:

PowerSchool calculates a student’s final grade by combining assignment grades with their respective weights or category weights. An individual assignment grade is determined by dividing the points earned on an assignment by the total points possible.

Next, PowerSchool computes the weighted average for each category by multiplying the assignment percentage by its weight within that category. Finally, these category weighted averages are added together to compute the student’s overall final grade.

6. Customization Options:

PowerSchool enables teachers to customize their grade calculation methods for different grading periods and assessment types. Among these customization options, teachers can choose whether to drop the lowest grades within a category, employ a points-based or percentage-based grading system, exclude specific students or assignments from calculations, and more.

Conclusion:

PowerSchool streamlines the process of tracking and calculating grades, allowing teachers to manage their gradebooks efficiently and transparently. By understanding how PowerSchool calculates grades, educators can adapt the platform to their grading policies and practices. This ensures that student performance is not only accurately assessed but also meaningfully communicated to all stakeholders involved in the educational process.